Get ready to say goodbye to the Ala Wai pipe

Get ready to say goodbye to the Ala Wai pipe. The temporary sewer pipe has been raised and cut, to prepare for its removal. The pipe was installed back in 2006 after more than 40 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the canal from the sewage line break. The section cuts mark the final phase of the project.

"All this time, the work we were doing really didn't affect the public because it was down underground ... where we didn't disturb the canoers or the schools," said Chris Takashige with the city's Department of Design and Construction.

But as city crews wrap up the project, the pipe has been floating above of the water, forcing paddlers to move around it.

"It interferes with their launching ... totally understand their frustration, but a project like this just takes a lot of time and we want to thank everyone for their cooperation," said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

It's been a longer nuisance for others. The pipe break seven years ago shut down the use of a field for Iolani School. The cut Wednesday represents another step toward getting the field back, for the school's athletic director.

"We put a lot of time and resources of making that field a very good field. That field was used for state tournament games ... it was a very important facility," said Carl Schroers, athletic director at Iolani School.

From the web

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is encouraging Hawaii commercial and backyard poultry and bird owners to be vigilant due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 along the Pacific flyway migratory bird path.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is encouraging Hawaii commercial and backyard poultry and bird owners to be vigilant due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 along the Pacific flyway migratory bird path.